Where to Stay in Hoi An (3 Best Areas + Stays We’d Book)

Choosing where to stay in Hoi An can make or break your trip, especially once you realise how spread out everything feels in the heat (yes, it’s HOT).

We spent 5 days there getting clothes tailored, making our own lanterns, cycling to the beach, and eating our way around town, and realised that each area has a completely different vibe.

Some people will want to stay right by the Old Town so they can walk everywhere, while others will prefer somewhere quieter or closer to the beach.

We break down the 3 main areas to stay in Hoi An and share the best hotels in each one for every budget, so you can figure out which vibe suits your trip.

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Not Sure Which Area to Stay? Start Here

Where you stay in Hoi An can completely change your experience—whether you’re stepping straight into lantern-lit streets, cycling through rice fields, or spending your days by the beach.

If you’re not sure which area is right for you, here’s a quick breakdown:

Stay in Old Town (Walk Everywhere)

Perfect if you want to be right in the middle of everything.

You’ll be steps from Hoi An’s famous lantern streets, night markets, cafes, and restaurants.

It’s the most convenient option if you only have a few days and want to explore on foot, but it can get busy and a little noisy.

👉 See the best hotels in Old Town

Stay Just Outside Old Town (Quiet + Local Feel)

This is our personal favorite area and where we stayed.

You’re still only a short bike ride or 15–20 minute walk from Old Town, but it feels way more relaxed and local.

You’ll get rice field views, quieter streets, and a slower pace, without sacrificing too much convenience.

👉 Explore peaceful stays just outside Old Town

Stay Near An Bang Beach (Relaxed + Beachy)

Best for a laid-back, beach-first vibe. Bang An Beach is all about slow mornings, cafes, and sunset swims.

You’ll be a bit further from Old Town (around 10–15 minutes by Grab), but if you’re planning to mix sightseeing with proper relaxation, it’s a great balance.

👉 Check out the best stays near An Bang Beach

TOP TIP: Distances in Hoi An are super manageable. Most places offer free bikes, and Grab rides are cheap. So don’t stress too much about being “far” – it’s more about the vibe you want for your trip.

Top Places to Stay in Hoi An (If You Just Want the Best)

• Best Boutique Stay: Kaia Gallery Hotel → Beautiful design, rice field views, and a peaceful, elevated feel.
• Best Budget (Local + Chill): Okra Hoian → Relaxed vibe, free bikes, and thoughtful extras like fresh fruit and coffee always available.
• Best Social Hostel: Gito Hostel → Walk everywhere, solid beds, breakfast included, and an easy, social atmosphere.
• Best Beach Stay: ChiEM Hoi An → Designed for switching off. Comfy, calm, and steps from the beach.

Our Top Pick: If we were booking another trip to Hoi An, we’d stay at Kaia Gallery Hotel in a heartbeat—no question.

🧳 Already have your dates in mind? Browse all Hoi An hotels to quickly compare prices, locations, and availability before they fill up.

Hoi An Areas Explained (And How to Choose)

Old Town Hoi An (Best for First-Time Visitors & Walkability)

Old Town is exactly what you picture when you think of Hoi An. Lanterns hanging over the river, narrow streets full of tailors, and the smell of banh mi cooking on every corner.

During the day, it is busy and chaotic but in a fun way. You’ll see people popping in and out of tailoring shops, cyclists weaving through the streets, and tiny food stalls packed with locals.

At night, the streets are completely different.

The lanterns light up, the temperature finally drops, and everyone heads out to wander along the river or stop for a drink at one of the cafes. It really is as magical as you think.

Stay Here If You:

• Want to walk everywhere without thinking about transport
• Are visiting Hoi An for the first time
• Love being right in the middle of everything
• Do not mind crowds or slightly higher prices

Don’t Stay Here If You:

• Want somewhere quiet to relax
• Get overwhelmed by busy streets
• Prefer a slower pace

Our Experience

We stayed just outside Old Town and walked (or took a Grab) into town most evenings.

We loved the atmosphere at night, but during the day it felt like a lot, especially in the heat (Jess’s English blood can’t handle it). After a couple hours, we were always ready to head somewhere cooler and quieter.

If you love that kind of energy, you will probably love staying here. But if you are unsure, being just outside Old Town gives you a bit of breathing room while still being close.

TOP TIP: If you do stay in Old Town, try to book somewhere on a quieter street. It makes a huge difference once the evening crowds pick up.

Just Outside Old Town (Best for Quiet Stays and Better Value)

Staying just outside Old Town ended up being the perfect balance for us.

We could still walk into town whenever we wanted, but where we stayed felt completely different than the tourist-packed Old Town. 

The streets were quieter (minus the cafe karaoke), the food was cheaper, and it was much more local-oriented than being right in the middle of everything.

It gave us a bit of space to actually enjoy Hoi An, not just navigate through crowds.

Stay Here If You:

• Want to be close to Old Town without staying in the chaos
• Prefer somewhere quieter to come back to at the end of the day
• Want better value for money on accommodation and food
• Like getting a more local feel of a place

Don’t Stay Here If You:

• Want to step straight out into the main sights
• Do not want to walk or cycle (or get a Grab) to get around
• Prefer being in the centre of everything at all times

Our Experience

This is where we stayed, and we would choose it again.

Being able to walk into Old Town in about 10 to 15 minutes was easy, and having quiet streets to come back to made a huge difference, especially after busy days in the heat.

Our hostel also offered free bike rental, which seems to be a fairly common offer in this area of Hoi An.

An Bang Beach (Best for Relaxed Beach Vibes)

If you’re looking for a bit of a holiday from your holiday in Hoi An, this is where you want to be.

An Bang Beach is about a 15 to 25 minute bike ride depending on how fast you go (and how much you stop), or around 10 to 15 minutes by car from Old Town. Up to you whether this is a pro or con.

The main beach area is centred around An Bang, and it has a completely different energy.

There are loads of western style coffee shops, breakfast spots, and beach bars, and just generally has a chilled beach town vibe.

You can still find local food around here too, you just might need to walk a bit further out from the main beach strip to find it.

Stay Here If You:

• Want a more relaxed, beach focused stay
• Love cafes, brunch spots, and chilled out surroundings
• Do not mind being a short ride away from Old Town
• Plan to split your time between the beach and sightseeing

Don’t Stay Here If You:

• Want to walk everywhere
• Plan to spend most of your time in Old Town
• Prefer a more local, less tourist heavy area

Our experience

We cycled down to An Bang Beach one day and it ended up being one of our favourite parts of Hoi An (because we low key didn’t know there was a beach here before arriving).

The ride itself was a highlight, passing rice fields and country roads (along with some main streets) before reaching the beach. 

If we came back to Hoi An, this is the area we would look at for a few nights to break up the trip.

TOP TIP: Grab rides are very affordable in Hoi An, so staying by the beach does not mean you are stuck there. You can still head into Old Town for dinner or evenings really easily.

Best Accommodation in Old Town (Walk Everywhere)

​​If you want to step outside and be right in the middle of everything, this is the area for you.

Budget – Gito Hostel

If you want to stay right by Old Town without spending much, this is one of the best options.

Gito Hostel has everything you want from a good hostel: the beds are solid, the showers are hot, breakfast is included, and there are plenty of chances to meet other travellers if you want to.

From what we saw, this is a great pick if you want to be in the middle of everything during the day and still have a comfortable place to come back to.

🎒 Want to stay right in Old Town without blowing your budget? Gito Hostel gives you the location and the social vibe without sacrificing comfort.

Mid Range – Hoi An Center Town

If you are traveling as a couple or want a private room without spending much more than a hostel, Hoi An Center Town is such a good option.

For only a little more than the price of a hostel bed, you get a full room and a lot more comfort. If you are splitting the cost, it often works out about the same anyway, so it is an easy upgrade.

It is tucked down a quiet side street, which makes a big difference once you have spent time in the busier parts of Hoi An.

There is a really good breakfast available, bikes you can rent to get around, and it is locally owned, which is always a big plus for us.

💸 Why pay hostel prices for less space? Upgrade to a private room at Hoi An Center Town for nearly the same cost—especially if you’re splitting it.

High End – Hoianese Tranquil Heritage Hotel

If you want something a bit more special while still staying close to Old Town, this is a great option.

It’s set in a beautiful traditional building with thoughtful design throughout, and only about a 5 minute walk from the centre, so you get the prime location without being right in the busiest streets.

The rooms are spotless and really well put together, and the hospitality stands out.

One thing we loved is that your stay includes a free history talk about Hoi An, which adds a lot more context to your time there.

TOP TIP: This is a good choice if you want to splurge a little without going full luxury. That said, we did not come across many true luxury hotels right in Old Town itself, so this is more of a boutique upgrade than a high end resort stay.

🏮 Want something more special than a standard stay? This boutique hotel blends beautiful design, standout hospitality, and a prime (but peaceful) Old Town location.

BONUS LUXURY OPTION: Hội An Wooden Retreat In Town

This place looks like it’s often booked out, but if we could ever snag a booking (and had the budget) we would DEFINITELY stay here.

It’s a villa completely to yourself actually right in Old Town Hoi An and has a gorgeous private pool, a projector, and really beautiful design throughout.

There is also a washing machine and a bathtub in case you needed more convincing.

Honestly, it’s not even that expensive for what it is, so take this as our top recommendation if you are not on a budget.

Or just book ahead and plan your trip around staying here for a really unique experience.

🏡 If you can snag this place, do it. Your own private villa in Old Town with a pool, projector, and stunning design is as good as it gets.

Best Accommodation Just Outside Old Town (Quiet & Local Feel)

This is where we stayed. It’s the best mix of peaceful + close to everything.

Budget – Okra Hoian

We stayed here and loved the local vibe and the kind of chill people Okra attracted.

The beds are comfy, the showers are hot and private, and they always had fresh fruit and coffee in the common area for free.

Something we also appreciated was the free bike rentals.

You are assigned a bike at check in and keep the same one for your whole stay, so you never have to worry about availability or adjusting the seat every time (so thoughtful).

There is also a really nice coffee shop next door that you get a discount at during your stay. It is about a 15 to 20 minute walk from Old Town, which is not bad at all, and we easily biked to the beach from here.

You can check rates and availability for your stay here.

👀 Not totally sold on this one? Take a look at more Hoi An stays here—you might find something that fits your style (or budget) even better.

Mid Range – Hoi An Merrily De Art Hotel

Another great example of a really good value mid range stay.

It is about a 20 minute walk from Old Town, is sparkling clean, has a solid breakfast, and a really nice pool that is half shaded and half in the sun, which is honestly such a win.

This is a perfect pick for a couple wanting to stay just outside Old Town with rice field views but still close to everything.

☀️ If you’re after a clean, great-value stay with a pool and rice field views (without Old Town chaos), this is such a great hotel.

High End – Kaia Gallery Hotel Hoi An

This low key might be our favorite pick of the lot 🤫. Kaia Gallery Hotel is actually really close to Old Town, but just far enough to push it into the “just outside of Old Town” area.

It’s such a beautiful, thoughtfully designed hotel with massive glass walls, boutique designer touches, and 10/10 hospitality. The mix of wood and concrete is just *chef’s kiss.*

Some rooms have a balcony overlooking the rice fields, and there’s a gorgeous terrace area for yoga and relaxing.

We will 100% be staying here if we visit Hoi An again, no question.

💛 If you only book one “special stay” in Vietnam, make it this one—Kaia Gallery Hotel is worth it for the design, views, and peaceful vibe.

Best Hotels Near An Bang Beach

If your ideal day includes beach time, smoothie bowls, and more chill vibes, you should stay by An Bang Beach.

Budget – Wanderlust Hoi An – An Bang Beach

Swimming pool, built-in bunks with curtains, and shaded outdoor common areas, Wanderlust is another hostel that has all of our must-have amenities.

You get the best of both worlds (cue Hannah Montana) with the pool and the beach close by, and you are surrounded by tons of great coffee shops and cafes.

If you do not mind grabbing a ride into Hoi An when you want to explore Old Town, this is a great pick for budget travelers.

TOP TIP: This does seem like a biiiittt of a party-like hostel, so take that as you will. Wanderlust has amazing reviews so if that’s your vibe, you’ll have a great time.

🏖️ Want a social, beachy hostel with a pool and everything on your doorstep? Wanderlust is perfect if you’re here to meet people and have fun.

Mid Range – CocoPalm Hoi An River Beach

If you want river views while staying at the beach, CocoPalm is a good choice (based on the overwhelmingly positive reviews).

The rooms are not anything super special, but they are decently large, clean, and many have balconies, just make sure you book one if you want it.

There is also a partially shaded pool, which is always a win, and you are still just steps from the beach with water views without paying full beachfront prices.

🌅 After river views and beach access without the high price tag? CocoPalm is a solid pick. Just grab a balcony room while they’re still available.

High End – ChiEM Hoi An

Tasteful design, nice breakfast, close to the beach and comfy beds…what more could you want? ChiEM Hoi An is the classic beach resort you book to just chill.

The biggest complaint from guests is that they have to leave, which we think says a lot.

✨ If your goal is to fully switch off and enjoy a beautiful, easy beach stay, ChiEM Hoi An is exactly the kind of place you’ll wish you booked longer.

Still Not Sure Where to Stay in Hoi An?

If you’re still deciding, this is exactly what we would do based on our trip:

☝️ If it is your first time in Hoi An and you only have a couple of days, stay in Old Town. Being able to walk everywhere makes a big difference, especially in the heat.

We originally thought staying right in Old Town was the obvious choice, but after a couple days in the heat and crowds, we were really glad we chose somewhere just outside instead.

☮️ If you want a balance of location and quiet, stay just outside Old Town.

This is what we did, and it gave us the best of both worlds. Close enough to walk in, but far enough to escape the crowds when we needed a break.

🌴 If you are planning a slower trip or want some beach time, split your stay. A few nights near Old Town and a few nights at An Bang Beach is ideal and gives you two completely different sides of Hoi An.

If we were booking again, we would stay just outside Old Town and pick somewhere like Kaia Gallery Hotel for the design, location, and overall experience.

✨ Still deciding? Compare all the best hotels in Hoi An for your dates and find the one that feels just right for your trip.

If you’re still figuring out your trip, we mapped out exactly how we spent 3 days in Hoi An, including tailoring, lantern making, beach days, and where we ate far too much (eyes always bigger than our stomachs).

👉 Read our full Hoi An itinerary here

If you are planning a longer trip, we mapped out full Vietnam itineraries here.

• 👉 14 Days – Two Weeks in Vietnam
• 👉 30 Days – One Month Vietnam Itinerary
• 👉 Or figure out whether to start in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City

🇻🇳 Planning your Vietnam trip beyond Hoi An? These are our 7 favorite places we visited in Vietnam (+ what to do there).

Getting to Hoi An (Or Leaving)

Hoi An is super well connected by bus to the rest of Vietnam. If you want to take the train (like we did) or fly, you’ll have to travel from Da Nang which is about 35 minutes up the coast.

You can easily take a Grab or taxi to and from Da Nang, or take the local bus (just ask your accommodation for directions to the bus stop).

If you are traveling around Vietnam, sleeper buses and trains are the most common and easiest way to book your travel.

• 👉 Read our guide to sleeper buses in Vietnam
• 👉 Or what to expect on the overnight train